Jamaica v. USA Soccer, 7pm EDT Tonight, ESPN2, WCQ SemiFinals

[RPI-Fan]

T-minus 10 hours!!!!!

[RPI-Fan]

Early reports indicate that our lineup will be:

            Donovan  --  McBride

Beasley -- Reyna -- Armas -- Earnie Stewart

Vanney -- Bocanegra -- Pope -- Cherundolo

                    Keller

I hope to no end that Stewart does not see any action in this game. Eddie Gaven is a better option out right, by far, immediately and of course in the future.

~rpi-fan

[SirFozzie]

Stewart????? Oi....

I am not exactly filled with good feelings entering this one.. Gotta feeling we're not going to get the points from this one...

[RPI-Fan]

Heydude apparantly will start at right back, over Cherundolo.

Cobi Jones, Eddie Johnson, Kerry Zavagnin, Brian Ching, Eddie Lewis, Cherundolo, and Johnny Walker on the bench is my guess.

~rpi-fan

[Honolulu_Blue]

Where's Ado? We want Freddy!!

[Joe]

pffffffft we want Tim Howard

[SirFozzie]

Freddy Adu's mommy called Bruce Arena.. he's apparently grounded...

(Isn't he in violation of child labor laws? After all, his games are past 8 pm.. and kids his age aren't supposed to be allowed to work past that time )

[k0ruptr]

I'll be watching iraq morroco

[condors]

Donovan is coming off mls player of the week i sure hope he still has that form. I sure hope we qualify and do well at this world cup. Will be nice to see him and Beasley show off some speed, i am a little surprised Convey isn't in the lineup. Those 3 are really good with the ball coming forward. I would also like to see Kyle Martino get some playing time he is a top notch playmaker.

[DaddyTorgo]

I am confident, and I guess I don't see how people can't be. I think that this US Team is finally to the point (after so many years of mediocrity) that anytime they step onto any field they have to be considered a force. Not that I put much stock in FIFA rankings (and by much I mean any) but I think rankings aside anyone that's followed US Soccer will agree that this team is the deepest and most talented they've seen. Now, I've only been following US Soccer religiously since 1990 or so, but this team has come VERY far, and I like their chances against almost anybody in the world (only afraid of Brazil at full strength, Argentina, and maybe Italy although I feel we could easily draw them). Bring on the ReggeBoyz!!!

[Alf]

I'll be watching France newest team without Zidane... They play in my town tonight .

[fantastic flying froggies]

Originally Posted by Alf

I'll be watching France newest team without Zidane... They play in my town tonight .

Watching as in the stadium or on the TV ?

[SunDancer]

This the first game in the beginning of the Qualifiers?

[SirFozzie]

it's the first game in the semifinal round of qualifying..

[RPI-Fan]

Hejduk instead of Cherundolo at Right Back...

POSSIBLY, Boca to Left Back and Gibbs in the center.

Donovan and McBride confirmed up top.

3.5 hours!!!

[Alf]

Originally Posted by fantastic flying froggies

Watching as in the stadium or on the TV ?

TV. My family is here so I had to stay at home. Didn't even watch it after all as we had a nice discussion during diner.

[Easy Mac]

Am i the only one that thinks Hejduk has no talent? He runs like a chicken with his head cut off, can't dribble, can't cross, constantly gets beaten down the side and has horrible touch on the ball. How does he stay on the team? I'd almost rather see Berhalter in the back than Hejduk.

I think the US is willing to concede a draw with the lineup they have out there. I haven't really like how Reyna and Armas have linked up in the midfield.

[FBPro]

Headed out to dinner but should be home in time to catch this, thank God for 2 TV's as I'm sure the wife will want to watch the Olympics(normally I would also, but this is a special event).

[Eaglesfan27]

This game will be a good reason to miss some of the olympics tonight. I hope Donovan can maintain his recent good form.

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

Am i the only one that thinks Hejduk has no talent? He runs like a chicken with his head cut off, can't dribble, can't cross, constantly gets beaten down the side and has horrible touch on the ball. How does he stay on the team? I'd almost rather see Berhalter in the back than Hejduk.

I think the US is willing to concede a draw with the lineup they have out there. I haven't really like how Reyna and Armas have linked up in the midfield.

I guess you haven't seen Frankie's stepovers, huh?

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

This game will be a good reason to miss some of the olympics tonight. I hope Donovan can maintain his recent good form.

Finally, something good about the Olympics and the West Coast delay. Not only do I get to watch USA soccer, but I won't miss any of the Olympics.

I sure hope that Stewart isn't starting.

USA! USA! USA!

[Easy Mac]

Stewart is indeed starting.

And McBride should have done more with the ball from Beas

[kingfc22]

At least they are not playing in a torrential storm. I think it was last year that they played Jamaica in that mud bow?

[Easy Mac]

Well, I know they were calling for T.S. Earl to venture towards Jamaica, but then the thing died.

The US just looks tired and uninterested... maybe even scared. We have absolutely no midfield right now.

Do we even have a right-sided midfielder anywhere in our system? I think we need someone down the other side to run parallel with Beasley.

[Eaglesfan27]

The team is playing too cautiously.

[Easy Mac]

Nice play by Beas... he impresses me more and more every time I see him. He is by the the most improved young player the US has. Donovan has gotten better, but Beas has definitely improved the most. If he doesn't get a monstrous European contract soon, there's something wrong.

[Easy Mac]

nevermind then... I really need to pay more attention to US Soccer happenings.

[RPI-Fan]

Paging Bruce Arena: Get Earnie Stewart off the fucking field!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pyser]

um, did america not qualify for the olympics in soccer? i cant them leaving athens for some world cup qualifying match...someone fill me in please.

[henry296]

Originally Posted by Pyser

um, did america not qualify for the olympics in soccer? i cant them leaving athens for some world cup qualifying match...someone fill me in please.

Didn't qualify... Lost to Mexico and Costa Rica.

[Easy Mac]

a: no
b: the olymipic teams are not the world cup teams. The Olympic teams are made up of players only 23 years old or younger. I think they have have up to 3 players who are older than 23 on the team, but no more than that. so the Olympic team wouldn't be the same as the US team. Even if they did make it, you wouldn't seeguys like Beasley or Donovan in the Olympics, mainly because of the qualifiers. I would think the current game would take precedence over the olympics, but who knows.

hope that clears it up.

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

...I would think the current game would take precedence over the olympics, but who knows...

This is absolutely correct.

[Eaglesfan27]

Careless play costs the USA

[Easy Mac]

fuck

[Easy Mac]

was it Armas that made the horrible pass that started it all?

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm pretty sure it was.

[Easy Mac]

Ok, b/c I was going to say there were 3 players who bring absolutely nothign to the team, and may make it worse: Armas, Stewart, and Hejduk. It just seems like the Bruce can't let those 3 go. We'd be far better served to let Reyna play at D-mid and have someone else in the middle as a slightly more attacking midfielder.

[GoldenEagle]

Pope lost his man on a run which led to the corner. If we would have had someone standing on the back post the goal would not have happened.

This announcing team blows ass. Is that Wynalda? Damn I wish he would just shut the hell up.

[GoldenEagle]

The US is thin at defender and espcially experinced defenders, that is why hedjuk is out there. I am actually a fan of Armas but Masteroni is hell of alot better,

[Easy Mac]

I understand the need for experience, but there has to be a point where talent has to push a guy forward so they can gain experience. I'm not really a Mastroeni fan, just because he's too much of a livewire. He gets himself in dangerous situations and is a bit like Hejduk, he's out of control too much. I think he's very talented, but I just don't think he's put it all together. I just wish John O'brien could stay healthy.

[Easy Mac]

If this is the MLS, Ching gets that one in easily

[GoldenEagle]

Cobi?

[Easy Mac]

Well, Steve Sampson was hired today, so maybe we just want to recapture some of that 1998 World Cup Magic. Anyone know where David Regis or Mike Burns are?

[Easy Mac]

Damn, I love Hejduk's hustle, he really wants to be good and I really want to like him, but he just can't pass the damn ball.

[Easy Mac]

Lewis for Armas... I dunno, Lewis doesn't bring much to the table, but I like his crosses, so I think its an upgrade.

[Easy Mac]

Donovan just got checked into the boards. How the fuck is there no card?

[JeffNights]

ok...is Jamica any good anyway?

[Pyser]

thanks for clearing that up guys. while im here: i imagine the age rules are to keep thr world cup more "important" than the olympics?

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by JeffNights

ok...is Jamica any good anyway?

I think they've always been decent, and our main competition in our group. They either made the last world cup or the one before, I forget

[VPI97]

YES!